Chennai, Dec 18 (NationPress) The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M.K. Stalin, did not hold back in his condemnation of AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) on Thursday. He accused EPS of taking a subdued and unclear position regarding the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), which is currently undergoing significant changes from the Centre.

In his statement, Stalin pointed out that EPS's recent remarks on MGNREGS lacked both conviction and clarity, implying that the AIADMK leader seems more concerned about maintaining a positive relationship with the Union government than about advocating for the rural poor in Tamil Nadu.

He claimed that the Opposition's rhetoric had been intentionally softened to avoid upsetting Delhi.

Stalin highlighted that while EPS mentioned an increase in MGNREGS person-days from 100 to 125, this increase exists only on paper and does not represent the actual situation on the ground.

The Chief Minister contended that the real allocation of work has been reduced, adversely impacting thousands of beneficiaries in the state and raising concerns about whether EPS is ignoring the struggles faced by rural laborers who rely on this scheme.

Stalin further asserted that Tamil Nadu is being unjustly punished for its achievements, such as its better performance in poverty reduction and population control.

He drew comparisons to discussions on reducing parliamentary constituencies in states with effective population management, suggesting that the Centre's actions are both counterproductive and discriminatory.

Moreover, he accused the AIADMK leader of remaining silent on the Union government’s plan to transform MGNREGS into the VBGRAMG — the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission – Gramin — alleging that this restructuring aims to dismantle the essential guarantees of the rural employment scheme.

Stalin criticized the shift of the financial burden of employment guarantees from the Centre to state governments, arguing that such a transition would compromise the fundamental principle of MGNREGS, which serves as a central safety net for rural laborers.

He questioned why EPS has not publicly challenged this change, considering the severe implications for Tamil Nadu. In a direct challenge, Stalin asked whether Palaniswami would support the Centre’s plan if he believed it was right, indicating that the AIADMK leader seems hesitant to speak out due to his political ties with the BJP.

These remarks from the Chief Minister signal yet another contentious moment between the ruling DMK and the AIADMK, with MGNREGS emerging as a crucial issue in their ongoing debates over federal rights, welfare initiatives, and Centre–state relations.